MCQEasyJEE 2024Surface Tension & Capillarity

JEE Physics 2024 Question with Solution

Given below are two statements: Statement I: If a capillary tube is immersed first in cold water and then in hot water, the height of capillary rise will be smaller in hot water. Statement II: If a capillary tube is immersed first in cold water and then in hot water, the height of capillary rise will be smaller in cold water.

  • A

    Statement I and Statement II are false

  • B

    Statement I is true but Statement II is false

  • C

    Statement I is false but Statement II is true

  • D

    Statement I and Statement II are true

Answer

Correct answer:B

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Two statements compare the height of capillary rise in cold water and hot water.

Find: Which statement is correct.

Capillary rise is given by

h=2γcosθρgrh = \frac{2\gamma \cos \theta}{\rho g r}

where γ\gamma is the surface tension of the liquid.

When temperature increases, the surface tension decreases. Since hh is directly proportional to γ\gamma, the height of capillary rise decreases in hot water.

So, the height of capillary rise is smaller in hot water and larger in cold water.

Therefore, Statement I is true but Statement II is false. The correct option is B.

Detailed Reasoning

Given:

  • Capillary rise in cold water and hot water is to be compared.
  • Surface tension changes with temperature.

Find: Truth value of Statement I and Statement II.

The relation for capillary rise is

h=2Tcosθρgrh = \frac{2T \cos \theta}{\rho g r}

where TT is the surface tension, θ\theta is the contact angle, ρ\rho is the density of the liquid, gg is acceleration due to gravity, and rr is the radius of the capillary tube.

As temperature increases, surface tension decreases. Hence the value of hh also decreases.

Now analyze the statements:

  1. Statement I: In hot water, capillary rise is smaller. This is true.
  2. Statement II: In cold water, capillary rise is smaller. This is false.

Therefore, the correct option is B, that is, Statement I is true but Statement II is false.

There is a discrepancy in the solution where one place marks the answer as B and another writes (2), but both correspond to the same statement.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming capillary rise increases with temperature. This is wrong because surface tension decreases as temperature increases. Use the direct proportionality of hh with surface tension.

  • Ignoring the formula for capillary rise and judging only from intuition about hot and cold water. This can lead to the opposite conclusion. Start with h=2γcosθρgrh = \frac{2\gamma \cos \theta}{\rho g r} and compare how temperature affects γ\gamma.

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